Article carrier



June 2z, 194s.

l.. l. SMITH ARTICLE CARRIER Filed July l2o, 1945 B/N D- v Cfll/f 17M %/1 E: -1| 3 D www) I B .Iil .9/

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m f Wou .A ll.\ a QV om M N e .M v. Y 6 B L? L NIH Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTlGLE CARRIER Leicester I. Smith, WestHartford,-Conn.

Application July 20, 1945, Serial"No.g60Q,17'i

12 Claims.

My invention relates to bottles, glasses, jars or other article carriers, and more particularly to handle `one or a plurality of beverage bottles, or'the like, or other articles.

'One-obj ect `of this invention isg-to lfacilitate the handling and distribution oi beverage bottles, glasses, jars or the like and other adaptablearticles y'both `in shipment and in carrying and returning such articles 'to the stores.

Another object of this Ainvention is Lto enable the ready i carrying of one -or lmore beverage Abottles, glasses, jars vand other objects without breakage by providing a snug tting `receptacle to receive `such articles and having bands to supportthem in position in such a waythatone such bottle or object does not come in contact with the other in ycarrying or handling.

`A 'further object `of my invention'is toprovide an attractive package, pleasing to the eye, and allowing generous space for advertising, both by a display of large sections yof the bottles or articles carried, and by providing space on the carrier `for attractive advertising of the products Icarried therein.

A further lobject of this invention is to ,fprovide a convenient, rugged and compact lightweight -carrierwhich may be manufactured in quantity of plentiful material at relatively low cost.

A further object oi this invention is to Apr-ovide a durable, inexpensive carrier of bewerage bottles or the like of any suitable material of` plyvvoody-metal, Wood, alloys, plastics and the like, om" compact and attractive design to be usedover a long period to package and sell beverages, or other `articles by use and return vof the carrier.

The invention an-d the lfeatures thereof-Will be understood more clearly and fully from" the following detailed description 4which "shows a -earrier for accommodating six beverage gbottles, but it is obvious that anynumber of Ybottles may be likewisegprovided for, and-this inventionis not limited to six or any other number of bottles ,or articles; and `any suitable material Vmay `befused in its construction.

"Figi visa `plan View of `an article carrier ernbodying vthe invention, the rig-ht hand portion of this view-being insection along'the line I-.- l of Fig. 2.

` Fig. 2` isa side View, the right hand portion of this vview'being in section along the lineZ-eZ of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 vis an end view, this view showing Abottles in'rnlace inthe carrier. f

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of thc liprights forming awportion of the. carrier..

Referring to the drawing, 'l is a flat .base formed of a` suitable materialisuch. aspiywood and adapted tu supportthebottlesor other ar.- ticles --tdbe lal'ied,I `such bottles A0i' .artlcs'whng arranged in two :parallel rows. ,As shown, the base ,is adapted for supporting three bottles or other `articles in keach row', but lthe invention is not limi-ted to `the particular number oi articles in the rows. n

Secured t0- 'tllc bass :along c .central liuc be.- iween the .tw-.crows ci articles is an .upright or uprighgts formed .of .Suitable `,metcricl sich woccl, The upright or enrichis may be secured to. the base 4loyany suitable means such as nails la. Preferably, there is .plurality of upriehts which ,are .triangular in .horizontal section and when triangular .nprehts .are provided they are erefcrably arranged. alternately sc that cach two adjacent uprights formtwo recesses Ifor-re.- -ceivirig `pcniorljs .of two articles in the respective rgws. Theuprights, dat the ends are so arranged that the transversely vclitcrlflirls Yfaces thereof .are in register cr substantially in rcsf ister with the ends .of the base 'L rlhe other u-prights .8?, 858 andd are similar tothe uprignts c, .although qiffenngin details as4 win be described.

.Secured tothe upper politicos .of the uprghts are retaining members il, il and lla whichere nrcvidcd with .transversely .extending ,locpsfpcsltio-ned to enclose the `ripper politic-ns ofthe re.- spective articles s llh aS bottles 13, B in the afcrcsad .rcwsrcn the 'base 'Ly The retaining members il, l l andjllla maybe varied as to shape but cachcithem ,preferably `.comprises s singels continlicus bar-d cf material which is .generally oblongin shapeandwhicnf-orms twoloops for enclosing the upper portions of ,1j/wo:articles,4 The retaining members l. l .li and Hamcy bc formed ci any. suitable material such as .laminated Wccd- The uppcrpcrtion of `the .cuter facs 0f Acaclc upright Slis preierablrfcrmcd with c notch for receiving a portion of the corresponding retaining member Il and the rctaiuinamcmberis heldin place .by .means .cf nails. or other-wisc. .Each of the other upriszhts A8243!80 and 8d is `providedat ,tlicupiaer i r.tior1.` thereof' with a trans.- verse r1o.tc.h...8fe andvv thciwo .notches ,Se ofthe uprights of each. parofl adjacent `ultirights ,are in register'wth eachother. When .the retaining rnembersfl l,l `-are continuous bands, asis preferred and asis shown, the` said. bands` extend through. .the .notches ,as in the iuprghts se and 8d. The members liA are formed with concave portions in the said notches in the uprights 8a anddand the member llab is, formedwitn two concave portions The .central concave portions of, the centr-al retaining member lia. extend ihrclienthe notches irithc-npriehtsl encina. but. the saidmember `is not, ,directly secured to either of the said lllllshtsibeingotherwise .hc-.1d in place aswillprcscstly .apc-car- 'I'liere is. preferably prcvidcd a tcp -rlatc l2 formed; of" :any :suitable .material-such as site the several uprights.

A handle 9 is provided having a substantially horizontal gripping portion which is above the uprights and above the plate I '2. The handle has two bars 9a, 9a extending downwardly from the gripping portion and suitably connected with the uprights. The handle may be formed of plywood or any other suitable material. The plate l2 is apertured as shown at IZE and the bars 9*?, Sa extend through the respective apertures. Preferably, the handle 9 is vertically movable with respect to the other portions of the carrier. The respective uprights 8a, 8b, 8 and 8d are provided with vertical grooves 8f and the grooves in each pair of uprights register with each other to form a vertical slot for receiving the corresponding vertical bar 9B of the handle il. The bars 9a, Sa of the handle are vertically movable in the slots formed in the uprights of the two pairs. In order to limit relative upward movement of the handle, the bars 9a, 9a thereof are provided with lateral projections and the projection on each bar may be conveniently formed by means of a metallic pin lil extending horizontally through the bar. The uprights 8a, 8b, 8 and 8d are provided with slots 8g for receiving the projecting portions of the pins, A suitable means is provided for limiting relative upward movement of the handle 9 and the central portions of the retaining members Il, H and Ha may constitute such means. Inasmuch as the notches 8's are immediately above the grooves 8f and inasmuch as the retaining members extend through the said notches, it will be seen that the retaining members are in the path of movement of the ends of the pins I as shown in Fig. 2 and serve to obstruct or limit upward movement of the pins, thus limiting upward movement of the handle.

As clearly shown in the drawing, the concave portions of the retaining members il, Il and H3 provide spaces between them for the passage of the bars 9a, 9a. The retaining members H, Il are firmly secured to the end uprights 8, 3 as already explained, and the central retaining member Ha is held in. place by means of the bars 9, 9a of the handle, it being clear that the shape of the retaining member iif1 is such that it cannot be removed when the handle is in place.

In use bottles B, B or other articles to be carried are put in place in the carrier, being supported by the base 'I and being enclosed and held in place by means of the retaining elements Il, Il and Ila. During shipment the handle 9 is in its lower position to conserve space, but when the carrier is to be carried manually, the handle is moved to its upper position as limited by the pins I0, l0 so as to provide ample space for the top portion thereof to be conveniently gripped.

I claim:

1. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, a plurality of similar uprights generally triangular in horizontal section and secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows, alternate uprights being positioned oppositely so as to form rows of recesses for receiving portions of the articles in the said rows, a plurality of separate retaining members spaced from the base and connected with the upper portions of the triangular uprights and provided with transversely extending loops positioned to enclose the upper portions of the respective articles in the said rows, and a handle engaging some oi the uprights and Aprojecting upwardly therefrom,

2. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, a plurality of uprights secured at their bottoms to the Ibase along a center line between the two rows, a plurality of separate retaining members spaced from the base, each of the said members being connected with the upper portions of two of the uprights and extending transversely to provide two opposite loops forenclosing the upper portions of two articles in the respective rows, and a handle engaging some of the uprights and projecting upwardly therefrom.

3. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and. the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, a plurality of uprights secured at their lbottoms to the base along a center line rbetween the two rows, a plurality of separate retaining members spaced from the base and connected with the upper portions of the uprights and provided with transversely extending loops positioned to enclose the upper portions of the respective articles in the said rows, an apertured top plate secured to the uprights above the retaining members, and a handle having a gripping portion above the top plate.

and having two bars extending downwardly through apertures in the top plate and engaging the uprights below the topv plate.

4. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, a plurality of uprights secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows, the said uprights being provided with transverse notches near their upper ends, a plurality of separate retaining members spaced from the base and connected with the uprights in the notches therein and provided with transversely extending loops positioned to enclose the upper portions of the articles in the rows, an apertured top plate secured to the uprights above the retaining members and engaging the top of at least one of the retaining members to prevent relative upward movement of the said member out of the corresponding notches, and a handle having a gripping portion above the top plate and having two bars extending downwardly through apertures in the top plate and engaging the uprights below the top plate.

5. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, a plurality of uprights secured at theirbottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows, the said uprights being provided with transverse notches near their upper ends, a plurality of separate retaining members spaced from the base and connected with the uprights in the notches therein and each comprising a continuous closed oblong band forming two opposite loops for enclosing the upper portions of two articles inthe respective rows, and a handle engaging some of the uprights and projecting upwardly therefrom.

6. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, a plurality of similar uprights generally triangular in horizontal section and secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows, alternate uprights being positioned oppositely so as to form rows of recesses for receiving portions of the articles in the said rows and the sides of the uprights which are perpendicular to the rows being provided with notches near their upper ends, a plurality of separate retaining members spaced from the base and connected with the triangular uprights in the notches therein and each comprising a continuous closed oblong band forming two opposite loops for enclosing the upper portions of two articles in the respective rows, and a handle engaging some of the uprights and projecting upwardly therefrom.

7. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, uprights secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows and provided with vertical slots spaced apart longitudinally, a plurality of retaining members connected with the upper portions of the uprights and provided with transversely extending loops positioned to enclose the upper portions of the respective articles in the said rows, a vertically movable handle having a horizontal gripping portion above the uprights and having two bars extending downwardly from the gripping portion into the vertical slots in the uprights, and means associated with the said bars for limiting the vertical movement of the handle.

8. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, uprights secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows, the said uprights being provided with vertical slots spaced apart longitudinally, a plurality of retaining members connected with the upper portions of the uprights and provided with transversely extending loops positioned to enclose the upper portions of the respective articles in the said rows, a vertically movable lhandle having a horizontal gripping portion above the uprights and having two lbars extending downwardlyT from the gripping portion i into the vertical slots in the uprights, and means associ-ated with the said bars for limiting the vertical movement of the handle.

9. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, uprights secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows and provided with vertical slots spaced apart longitudinally, a plurality of retaining members connected with the upper portions of the uprights and provided with transversely extending loops positioned to enclose the upper portions of the respective articles in the said rows, a vertically movable handle having a horizontal gripping portion above the uprights and having two bars extending downwardly from the gripping portion into the vertical slots in the uprights, lateral projections on the bars, and means adjacent the upper ends of the slots for engaging the lateral projections on the bars for limiting the vertical movement of the handle.

10. In a Icarrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, uprights secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows, the said uprights being provided with vertical slots spaced apart longitudinally and being provided above the slots with transverse notches, a plurality of retaining members connected with the upper portions of the uprights in the notches therein and provided with transversely extending loops positioned to enclose the upper portions of the respective articles in the said rows, a vertically movable handle having a horizontal gripping portion above the uprights and having two bars extending downwardly from the gripping portion into the vertical slots in the uprights, and lateral projections on the rods engageable with the retaining members in the notches for limiting the vertical movement of the handle.

11. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, uprights secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows, the said uprights being provided with vertical slots spaced apart longitudinally and being provided above the slots with transverse notches, a plurality of retaining members connected with the upper portions of the uprights in the notches therein and each comprising a continuous closed oblong band forming two opposite loops for enclosing the upper portions of two articles in the respective rows, a vertically movable handle having a horizontal gripping portion above the uprights and having two bars extending downwardly from the gripping portion into the Vertical slots in the uprights, and lateral projections on the rods engageable with the retaining members in the notches for limiting the vertical movement of the handle.

12. In a carrier for articles such as bottles and the like, the combination of a base for supporting the articles in two parallel rows, uprights secured at their bottoms to the base along a center line between the two rows, the said uprights being provided with vertical slots spaced apart longitudinally and being provided above the slots with transverse notches, a plurality of retaining members connected with the upper portions of the uprights in the notches therein and each comprising a continuous closed oblong band formingV two opposite loops for enclosing the upper portions of two articles in the respective rows and each formed with at least one concave portion at one of the notchesin the uprights, a vertically movable handle having a horizontal gripping portion above the uprights and having two bars extending downwardly from the gripping portion into the vertical slots in the uprights, the bars of the handle extending between the concave portions of adjacent retaining members and the said bars serving to hold one of the retaining members in place, and lateral projections on the rods engageable with the retaining members in the notches for limiting the vertical movement of the handle.

LEICESTER. I. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 476,150 Knight May 31, 1892 1,205,075 Baehr Nov. 14, 1916 1,273,622 Kollman July 23, 1918 2,329,656 Sedgwick Sept. 14, 1943 2,404,685 Bassichis July 23, 1946 2,416,999 Keith et a1 Mar. 4, 1947 

